A Dubai Court has recently upheld a judgment awarding 300,000 dirhams to a victim of a hit-and-run incident, as a response to a case involving bodily harm and psychological distress.

The defendant, a man of Arab nationality, was found guilty of assaulting another person, also of Arab nationality, after he ran him over with his vehicle.

The victim, who filed a civil lawsuit, sought compensation for current and future medical expenses, loss of earnings, and mental anguish associated with the incident.

The claim included a request for a 5% legal interest pending the resolution of the case.

The plaintiff indicated the need for a future surgical procedure to remove metal plates that had been inserted following the incident, with preliminary estimates for the surgery amounting to 45,000 dirhams.

He contended that the hospital had refused to provide a formal estimate, citing potential increases in costs.

During court proceedings, the victim recounted the event, stating he was on the sidewalk when the accused struck him with his vehicle.

Following the incident, the defendant allegedly exited the vehicle, grabbed the victim by his clothing, and twisted his arm, worsening his injuries.

A criminal report was filed concerning the altercation.

A witness to the incident corroborated the victim's account, leading the public prosecutor to charge the defendant with assault.

Subsequently, the criminal court handed down an initial ruling against the defendant, who did not appeal, making the ruling definitive.

Following this, the victim turned to civil court for compensation, providing documentation such as a copy of the criminal ruling and a medical expert report, while efforts for an amicable settlement proved unsuccessful.

In its ruling, the court noted that under criminal procedure law, the civil case must be paused until a definitive judgment is reached, but this suspension lifts upon a conviction in the absence of the accused.

The ruling emphasized that civil courts are bound by criminal court decisions only regarding essential findings on the shared basis of both civil and criminal cases.

The court also clarified that legal precedents acknowledge that moral damages encompass any harm to dignity or emotional well-being, including psychological distress.

The civil court found that it had not received evidence that the defendant was formally notified of the criminal ruling, which meant that ruling was not yet final.

However, given that the appeal period had expired, the civil court was free to proceed with the case.

The court established from the evidence presented, including the plaintiff's testimony and the witness statement, that the defendant had indeed run over the plaintiff and had further assaulted him by twisting his arm, resulting in documented injuries, including fractures.

Taking these factors into account, the court awarded the victim 300,000 dirhams in compensation for the material and moral damages suffered, along with legal interest calculated at 5% from the time the ruling becomes final until full payment is received.